News Scan

Habitual Sex Offender Accused of Rape: Police in Detroit have arrested a sex offender with a history of probation violations after he allegedly broke into a woman's apartment Tuesday morning and raped her. George Hunter of the Detroit News reports that 28-year-old Marcellus Hill, a habitual sex offender under state supervision, has been charged with multiple felonies including kidnapping, robbery and sexual assault. According to court records, Hill has a history of felonies which were reduced through plea-bargains and a record of habitually violating the terms of his probation.

Executions Carried out in Georgia and Missouri: Two condemned murderers, one in Georgia and one in Missouri, were put to death Tuesday evening after decades on death row. The Associated Press reports that Georgia inmate, 59-year-old Marcus Wells, was executed for the 1989 rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl, while Missouri inmate, 46-year-old John Winfield, was executed for his role in the murders of two women in 1996. Both states used the single drug pentobarbital, a sedative, and declined to reveal where they obtained the drug. Florida is scheduled to execute convicted murderer John Ruthell Henry Wednesday evening.

Dozens Arrested in LA Gang Sweep: 50 of Los Angeles' most dangerous gang members were arrested by federal and state officials in an effort to break up what is described as a violent and powerful cartel running a nationwide drug operation. Caitlin Owens and Richard Winton of the Los Angeles Times report that members of the notorious Five Deuce Broadway Gangster Crips are believed to be responsible for at least four killings since 1987 as well as multiple stabbings, shootings, armed robberies and violent confrontations with law enforcement. If convicted, each of the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, and many of them face possible life sentences.

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1 Comment

This is interesting about the plea bargains. I wonder if a jury might have meted out a guilty verdict to a greater offense if given the opportunity. Maybe with certain types of crimes like sex offenses the prosecution would be better off taking the time and expense of a jury trial. It's a matter of priorities for the DA. If the docket is stacked full of possession, distribution, pandering and soliciting cases; then there is not really time to fully consider the sex offense cases which the come across, much less try them before a jury.